2nd Lieutenant , Eric NORTON
Aged 24
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Born in 1892 (1st qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:767) son of Walter and Sarah Ann NORTON(née TOMPSON). His entry in De Ruvigny's roll of honour has his date of
birth wrong. His birth was registered 1st qtr 1892, so it possibly 21 November 1891, rather than 1893 and makes him 25 years old when he was killed. (not 23 as per CWGC)
1901 census...Aged 9, he was at 71 Guildhall Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Walter NORTON [45] draper/house furnishings born Great Yarmouth; his mother Annie [47]; sister Eveline [18]; brothers Oswald [16] and Cyril [12]. All except his father were born in Bury St.Edmunds. 1911 census...Aged 19, he was a bank clerk with the "Capital and Counties" bank, lvcing on his own at "Oakdene", 59 Oakland Road, Dovercourt, Essex |
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Commissioned from the Queen's Oxford Hussars Territorials into the 5th Suffolks, he was attached to the 4th Battalion when they were in action at High Wood. On 18th the battalion was in the line (left resting on the corner of High Wood), having spent the previous 2-3 days digging jumping off trenches and suffering casualties in the process. War Diary Capt.JFL Fison joined the regiment in the line about dawn and took over the duties of adjutant At 2:45 pm the German trenches opposite were attacked. The order of battle was D Coy on right and A on the left, with C in support and B in reserve. The 2nd Arg and Suth Hldrs at the same time assaulted the German position on our left in High Wood and the 4th Kings Liverpool the trenches on our right. The assault was carried out with determination, D and C Coys reached the enemy trenches and remained in them for some time. 2nd Lt VLS Bedwell the only surviving officer was killed in advance of the German line. Eventually they had to retire as they had both flanks in the air and reinforcements did not arrive. Two Lewis rifles were got into the German trench and hostile bombing attacks were repulsed, but finally the trench had to be abandoned and the men withdrew to SEAFORTH TRENCH. The new drafts conducted themselves admirably. 2nd Lts VLS Bedwell, HC Pawsey and E Norton were killed and Capt HF Ling and 2/Lt NE Suttle wounded. OR casualties killed 29, wounded 102, missing 50.
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